Couple Charged In Retired Hercules Teacher’s Murder Plead Not Guilty

HERCULES (CBS SF) - Police confirmed Friday a married couple is suspected in the killing last week of a Hercules woman after the pair were arrested in Washington state Wednesday with the woman’s stolen car following an alleged month-long crime spree.

Hercules investigators identified Southern California residents Darnell Washington, 25, and Tania Washington, 25, as suspects in the Oct. 5 killing of 55-year-old Susie Ko after reviewing evidence from Ko’s stolen car and interviewing the pair over the past two days in King County, Wash., Detective Connie Van Putten said.

The couple was being held in King County for alleged assault crimes committed there and in Southern California.

“There is an active investigation into other possible criminal activity that took place between the time Mr. Washington escaped in San Bernardino and their capture in Washington,” Deputy District Attorney Molly Manoukian said outside of the courtroom Friday.

The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office has also charged the couple in connection with the jailbreak, shooting and carjackings.

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